E-Liquid

Also known as eliquid, e-liquid, sauce, sauz, juice, e-juice and vape juice, e liquid is fundamental to your vaping experience. At TMB Notes you can choose from a wonderful array of e liquids including our own delicious flavours and those from the leading brands. You will discover vape juice to suit your taste, your device and your need for nicotine. Whether you are a beginner using a pod system or an advanced vaper with a sub ohm tank, your perfect e liquid is right here at TMB Notes.

What is e-liquid?

Without e liquid, you cannot vape. E liquid is the substance which you add to your tank or pod. When you fire your device, the vape juice is heated and vaporised. You can then inhale the vapour to enjoy the flavour and to benefit from a nicotine hit. All eliquids are made from a mix of VG (Vegetable Glycerin) and PG (Propylene Glycol) plus flavourings. Many also feature nicotine. VG and PG are widely used in food and medications. VG thickens the juice while PG carries the flavour and nicotine.

It is essential to choose an e liquid with an appropriate base for your device. The base is the mixture of VG and PG. Look for the VG/PG ratio which is stated on both the packaging and the bottles of all flavours. You will see a number followed by either VG or PG. For instance, 70VG means that the base of the e liquid is 70% VG.

Which base liquid ratio do you need?

You have diverse electronic cigarettes to choose from including starter kits, vape pens, pod systems and sub ohm devices. All e cigs feature coils which heat the e liquid. But the resistance of those coils varies. Coils with resistances of less than 1.0 ohm are known as sub ohm coils. These require e liquid which is at least 60VG and are favoured by direct to lung (DTL) vapers. DTL vaping involves drawing the vapour directly into your lungs.

Most vape pens and pod systems feature coils with higher resistances for mouth to lung (MTL) vaping. This is where you draw the vapour into your mouth and then into your lungs as you would when smoking a tobacco cigarette. If your device boasts high resistance, prebuilt coils, you should select an e liquid which is at least 50PG. This is because your coils will not get hot enough to quickly vaporise high VG e liquids and so they will clog your coils.

What about the nicotine?

If you have turned to vaping in order to quit smoking, you will be looking for eliquid that features nicotine to ease your cravings. But you need to choose a nicotine strength that is right for you. E liquids are available in a variety of nicotine strengths from 3mg to 20mg. The European Tobacco Directive (TPD) restricts the nicotine strength of e liquids to a maximum of 20mg (20mg/ml). The nicotine strength of each e liquid is stated in the product listings on our site, and also on the e liquid packaging. You may see the nicotine strength expressed as a percentage. 2% is the same as 20mg.

The nicotine strength you require will depend on the number of cigarettes you used to smoke each day. If you are or were a heavy smoker, choose a high nicotine strength to start with and then reduce the strength of your vape liquid over time.

What is salt nicotine?

Until comparatively recently, all e liquids featured freebase nicotine. This is the type of nicotine which you will find in nicotine replacement therapies and it is the purest form of the chemical. Freebase nicoine produces a noticeable throat hit when you inhale and so gives you a similar sensation to that of smoking. However, that hit may irritate your throat after a while and prevent you from being able to take the number of puffs you need to ease your cravings. Freebase nicotine is also slow to enter the bloodstream. This means that there is a delay between taking a puff and experiencing the effects of the nicotine.

You can now opt to vape flavours featuring salt nicotine. Also known as nic salts, nicotine salts and salt, this form of nicotine boasts a different chemical makeup. It is absorbed quickly by the body and so delivers immediate satisfaction. It also provides smoother throat hits and purer flavour. Salt nicotine gives significant relief while vaping at low temperatures. For this reason, nic salt e liquids usually feature 50PG bases which are suitable for vape pens and pod systems. Were high VG flavours for vaping at high temperatures to feature nic salts, the hits would simply be too intense.

You can discover more by reading our blog post Salt Nicotine V Freebase Nicotine.

What is a short fill?

The European Tobacco Directive (TPD) places restrictions on the volume of e liquid which can be sold when it contains nicotine. E liquids containing freebase or salt nicotine must be sold in volumes of no more than 10ml. This is clearly a major inconvenience for both e liquid producers and vapers. However, there is a solution! Manufacturers now offer nicotine-free e liquids in larger volumes. These are supplied in bottles which afford room to add nicotine shots. In other words, the bottles are not filled to the top with e liquid and so they are referred to as short fills.

To take advantage of shortfill eliquids, you need to order the correct number of nicotine shots to complete them. 60ml short fills contain 50ml of e liquid offer room for the addition of a single 10ml nicotine shot. 120ml short fills give you 100ml of e liquid and room to add two 10ml nicotine shots. Nicotine shots are also restricted to a maximum strength of 20mg and will be diluted by the e liquid. Your completed juice will therefore boast a low nicotine strength. An 18mg nicotine shot will create e liquid with a nicotine strength of 3mg.

What are DIY e liquids?

It is possible to mix your own e liquids. Engaging in a little DIY could save you money and gives you the opportunity to perfectly tailor your juice. All you need is your base liquid, flavour concentrates, nicotine shot (nicotine booster), a means to measure your ingredients and bottles to store your vape juice. You will find the DIY supplies you need here at TMB Notes. To learn more, read our Guide to Mixing DIY E Liquids.

Are e liquids safe?

The TPD (Tobacco Products Directive) dictates what can and can’t be included in e liquids. All e liquids sold in the UK must be TPD compliant. This means they cannot contain banned substances. Full toxicology and emissions reports must be published before an e-liquid even reaches the market. Public Health England has stated that all available research indicates that vaping is at least 95% safer than smoking.

Which e liquid flavours should you choose?

Where do we start with eliquid flavour? Whether you're looking for fruity juice, refreshing mint or menthol, tobacco e liquids, dessert flavours or the taste of your favourite treats, you will find it here at TMB Notes. Did we mention confectionery e liquids and cereal flavours? We have those too! Flavour is subjective and a matter of personal taste. You will discover the recipes that truly tantalise your taste buds. It’s always worth trying something new to lend variety to your vaping life. After all, you won’t know if you enjoy a flavour until you have tried it. You will be in for a few surprises and there’s something different to grace your tank every day of the year.

If you are just starting out, tobacco flavours will probably be your first port of call. These will ease your yearning for your ciggies and the familiar taste will ensure that you ease yourself smoothly into vaping. You can then sample the other delights which are at your disposal. The TMB Notes range includes our own premium flavours, short fills, bottle shots, and concentrates. But we are also pleased to bring you the finest e liquids from the leading brands including Vampire Vape, Twelve Monkeys, Zap! Juice, IVG. Nasty Juice, Dinner Lady and Charlie’s Chalkdust.

The exciting world of vaping

Don’t be intimidated by the choices you have to make. You are entering the exciting world of vaping where new innovations appear every day. Keep things simple to start with by selecting an entry level device and a few high PG juice flavours. Once you have mastered the basics of vaping and discovered which flavour profiles please your palate, you can move on to a more complex device and subohm vaping.

The TMB Notes team are always here to help you make the right decisions, whether you are choosing from our vape kits or fancy trying salt eliquid. Keep an eye out for our vape deals when you are ready to stock up on your 50ml shortfill e liquid, 100ml shortfills, juice for your refillable pods, nic shots or vape coils. From menthol eliquid to pod kits, we have you covered and at the right price!